CHICAGO (July 30, 2010) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 today awarded a $750,000 Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative grant to the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute, Superior, Wis. The grant will help reduce air emissions from a 1,000-foot Great Lakes marine vessel.

GLMRI is partnering with Key Lakes Inc., a major Great Lakes vessel operator based in Duluth, Minn., to repower the M/V Edwin H. Gott with two new engines that will significantly improve air quality in the region. The $750,000 EPA grant will be leveraged with $14 million in private investment.

It is estimated that the new engines in the Edwin H. Gott will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 27 per cent, carbon monoxide emissions by 75 per cent and particulate matter by 31 per cent.

The engine will be installed at Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., while the vessel is in dry dock for the winter, supporting employment in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative is a voluntary program to reduce diesel emissions and diesel fuel usage across the Midwest. More information can be found at http://www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel